My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 12 December (Handball and Winterbathing)

Welcome to my My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar!  Join me every day in opening a new door.  Once again, I’ve got a host of goodies to share with you – traditional Danish Christmas recipes, traditions, songs, games, decorations, crafts and landscapes…  So sit back, relax and enjoy!12 DECEMBERJust when the Danes are in the middle… Continue reading My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 12 December (Handball and Winterbathing)

So you're Scottish?

Unless you've been hiding underneath a(n exceedingly) large rock for the last week, you won't have escaped the worldwide media coverage of the Scottish referendum on Independence.  And if you're a regular reader, it won't have escaped your notice that I'm from Scotland :)"Oh, you're Scottish?!", exclaim the Danes.  Before launching into, "I studied there!/We've… Continue reading So you're Scottish?

Spring, sand, sea and sun!

What a difference a month makes... Spring officially started here in Denmark on Saturday (1 March) and, though we've still got the odd night of frost, the erantis (Week Seven. Sea or sun?) are out in full force and things are definitely beginning to look up!  To give you an example...  Here's a photo I took… Continue reading Spring, sand, sea and sun!

Winter is (finally) here!

I don't know what we've done to appease the Danish Weather Gods this year but - holy mackerel, Batman - we' ve had the mildest winter since I arrived in Denmark 16 years ago! Normally we have the first snowflakes in November.   Hats, coats, gloves and thermal undwear are de rigueur through December, January and February.  And, come March,… Continue reading Winter is (finally) here!

My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 24 December!

Welcome back to My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar!24 DECEMBERWoop, woop – it’s here!  24 December and we are ready to say “God Jul!”I started off the day – as I do most mornings – with a skinny dip in the Danish North Sea.   The weather was been extremely mild this December, with an average air temperature of… Continue reading My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 24 December!

You know you're in Denmark when… (No such thing as bad weather…)

 You know you're in Denmark when...The Danes just love the saying, "Der findes intet der hedder dårligt vejr, kun dårligt påklædning!"  ("There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing!" - Alfred Wainright)  And we have more than our fair share of the wet stuff around these parts...  So a couple of weeks back, at the… Continue reading You know you're in Denmark when… (No such thing as bad weather…)

You know you’re in Denmark when… (Cycle attire)

While not an avid follower of fashion, I do try and take pride in my appearance.  (For example, I would never dream of leaving the house without mascara and lipgloss.  Hey, I don’t even walk around my own house without mascara or lipgloss – don’t want to scare myself in the mirror!) But these autumn mornings, when I’m biking… Continue reading You know you’re in Denmark when… (Cycle attire)

Farewell summer…hello winterbathing!

Early Monday morning – like most weekday mornings - I was down at the beach having a swim in the sea with my (fellow-female-heading-towards-50-year-old) buddies.  All our kids are back at school/college/work after the Danish 6-week-long summer holiday and, alack alas, the summery weather is beginning to follow suit.  Yep, the afternoons can be positively tropical but there’s a definite chill in the air… Continue reading Farewell summer…hello winterbathing!

Winter bathing – who wants a slushice?

If you’ve a regular reader, you already know that I’m a h.u.g.e fan of vinterbadning. Winter bathing. Skinny dipping in the Danish sea. What ever you want to call it. Though I guess most people would probably just call it plain madness… I’m just back from this morning’s dip and can report that the sea… Continue reading Winter bathing – who wants a slushice?

Winterbathing for Dummies (Part Three – The Aftermath!)

Okay, so you did your homework (Winterbathing for Dummies – Be Prepared!) and have been for a skinny dip in the Danish sea (Winterbathing for Dummies – Taking the Plunge!). So now what? Chances are that you found it scary - but incredibly exhilarating – and are ready for more? Great! But stripping off down… Continue reading Winterbathing for Dummies (Part Three – The Aftermath!)

Winterbathing for Dummies (Part Two – Taking the Plunge!)

Last time I gave you a rundown of what you’ll need to do before you try winterbathing ( Winterbathing for Dummies (Part One – Be Prepared!) So, are you ready to go down to the beach and ‘take the plunge’?  February 2012 - the North sea has turned into slushice! Here’s what you need to know, before… Continue reading Winterbathing for Dummies (Part Two – Taking the Plunge!)

If the (winterbathing) shoe fits…

What gear do you need to go winter bathing? Me in the water last Monday morning 🙂 Hmm, very little.  A nice, long, warm bathrobe.  And shoes.  Flipflops, of course, are great.  Easy to kick on and off.  Until, that is, the air temperature drops to around 4 degrees and the sand starts 'crunching' underfoot! ;D  So I've been… Continue reading If the (winterbathing) shoe fits…

A Christmas (Winter bathing) Miracle

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that my friend V and I love vinterbadning (skinny dipping in the Danish sea, all year long).  And have become thorougly Addicted.  We've been stripping off down by the waterfront.  Come rain, hail or shine.  But, with the temperatures beginning to plummet and storms brewing aplenty, we were forced to realise… Continue reading A Christmas (Winter bathing) Miracle

Wot no bathing bridge?

My sweetie friend V and I arrived at the beach yesterday morning - desperate for our skinny dip in the Danish sea (yes, yes, we're completely addicted now) - and were met with this sorry sight... The sign on the bridge says "Use at your own risk"! ;D   Sunday night's storm had destroyed our beloved bathing bridge… Continue reading Wot no bathing bridge?

1st November and still going strong!

Happy 1st November!  And congratulations to my friend V and I for making it through yet another month of Danish helårsbadning.  All-year-round sea bathing.  Daily skinny dipping.  Whatever you want to call it - we just can't get enough of it! My friend V after a dip on a warm September morning We've had all kinds of weather since… Continue reading 1st November and still going strong!